File photo of passengers arriving in Lawas from Miri on a MASwings flight.
MIRI: MASwings has reinstated two flights for the Miri-Lawas sector to cater to the rising passenger demand, said state Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
He told The Borneo Post yesterday said the decision came after he had requested the rural air service operator to address public complaints on the unavailability of flights.
“MASwings has decided to reinstate flights MH3516 (2.50pm) and MH3512 (4.55pm) from Miri to Lawas, and the respective return flights MH3517 (3.50pm) and MH3513 (5.55pm) from Lawas.
“I had called up MASwings’ top management to find out the root of the problem after being informed of the dilemma faced by Lawas teachers, and was informed that it was adjusting its schedule to accommodate the higher demand in Miri-Lawas sector,” said Lee.
It was previously reported that the lack of flights for the Miri-Lawas sector had prevented teachers from flying into or out of Lawas, leaving them fearful of being unable to report back at their respective schools in time for the June 24 nationwide reopening.
One teacher, who was supposed to depart Miri on June 14, saw her flight to Lawas being rescheduled to June 24, while a principal hoping to fly out of Lawas to Miri had been unable to do so due to due to lack of flights.
MASwings had informed that it was facing a backlog of passengers for the Miri-Lawas route, caused by one aircraft being out of service as well as the June 7 flood at Lawas Airport.